World Food Day 2024 – FAO Yemen Celebrates Right to Food with Communities Across Four Governorates
Aden, Yemen. In honor of World Food Day 2024 (16 October), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Yemen celebrated the Day across four governorates - Aden, Hadramout, Lahj, and Taiz - in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, local partners and communities. This year’s theme, "Right to Food", highlighted the need for collective action to secure access to nutritious and sufficient food for all Yemenis.
In Aden, where the main celebration was held, a food exhibition showcased products from women small business owners, many of whom have benefited from FAO’s food security and agriculture projects. It brought to light FAO’s role in empowering these women through training and financial support, and how it helps build resilient local economies by promoting small-scale food production. In addition, a drawing competition brought together artists and community members to creatively express the right to food as a basic human right. FAO took the opportunity to emphasize its commitment to ensuring that food remains accessible to all, underscoring the importance of local solutions to food insecurity.
Hadramout hosted a group discussion on food security with local students and stakeholders, exploring the essential link between water resources and food production. Participants learned how FAO’s intervention in water resource management the organization has been promoting sustainable water-use practices in farming to ensure future food security. It was followed by a food exhibition which served as a testament to FAO’s efforts to empower women entrepreneurs and improve household incomes.
In Lahj, FAO hosted a Nutrition Awareness Lecture at the Agricultural University, where students gained valuable insights into sustainable food systems and FAO’s work in agricultural development. The session targeted future professionals in the agricultural field, highlighting FAO’s efforts to improve nutrition and food security through modern farming techniques and climate-resilient crops.
In Taiz, FAO participated in the Economic Opportunities Conference, delivering a speech that outlined the organization’s continued commitment to addressing food security challenges in Yemen through sustainable agricultural practices, economic empowerment, and climate resilience.
FAO Yemen’s Representative, Dr. Hussein Gadain, praised the collective efforts to address food security challenges in Yemen, “World Food Day 2024 reminds us that securing the right to food is essential for building a sustainable future. FAO Yemen continues to work with local communities, women entrepreneurs, and farmers to ensure that no one is left behind in the fight against hunger.”
FAO’s interventions are made possible through the generous support of its resource partners, and these initiatives continue to play a vital role in Yemen’s fight for food security and sustainable development.
